Tucked away on Mount Road (now Anna Salai) in Chennai stands Higginbotham’s, a cultural landmark that is India’s oldest surviving bookstore, established in 1844.
Its stately white colonial façade, with tall arched windows and a sweeping wooden staircase inside, carries echoes of nearly two centuries of literary history.
The Beginning of Higginbotham’s
The store’s journey began when an English librarian, Abel Joshua Higginbotham, took over a struggling bookshop named Wesleyan Book Shop run by Protestant missionaries. Higginbotham purchased the business, set up his own store, and called it "Higginbotham's".
With vision and perseverance, he transformed it into a thriving enterprise, introducing generations of Indians to the world of diverse books. His motto was simple yet powerful: books must be accessible to all.
A Hub for Readers and Thinkers
Over the years, Higginbotham’s became more than just a bookshop: it was a meeting ground for writers, thinkers, and book lovers.
Understanding the reading habits of the people of Madras, Abel Joshua began importing an extensive array of literature, covering poetry, fiction, non-fiction, politics, philosophy, religion, ethics, economics, history, medicine, engineering, and fine arts.
Students, professors, and casual readers alike browsed its shelves, which carried everything from rare tomes to popular novels. The bookstore soon became a proud intellectual landmark in Madras (now Chennai).
Higginbotham's Architectural Grandeur
The building was thoughtfully designed to protect its literary treasures, with a high ceiling for air circulation, minimal windows to keep out dust from unmetalled roads, and imported stained glass enhancing the few windows present.
Its elegant Italian marble floors and a splendid staircase leading to the second floor added to the grandeur of Higginbotham’s.
What makes Higginbotham’s remarkable is its ability to adapt. From colonial-era ledgers to glossy modern editions, the store has kept pace with changing times while preserving its old-world charm.
Today, Higginbotham’s has become synonymous with train journeys, establishing stalls at more than fifty railway stations across the country since 1944.
Higginbotham’s remains a bridge between past and present, where the romance of reading endures despite the digital age. Now managed by the Amalgamations Group, Higginbotham’s continues to hold its place as a literary beacon.
It is not just a shop but an institution—one that has stood witness to colonial rule, independence, and modern India.
Disclaimer: This article has been curated by Hook. All claims and opinions expressed belong to the original author. Hook does not verify or endorse the information presented and is not responsible for its accuracy.
